Weekly Thought – November 15, 2016

Fred often told his children he and Mary Alice were not interested in leaving large sums of money to them. “I don’t want you to expect something that isn’t coming. Your Mother and I want to leave a legacy, not an estate.” Their children learned the value of saving, buying quality, and staying out of debt. Money was never the measure of a person’s value. He appreciated the options it brought, and respected the responsibilities, but never worshipped at the altar of wealth.

Money Talk

The truth about money has been known for a long time. Aristotle called it “barren” – not because it doesn’t bring benefits, but because the emotions it evokes are among the lowest on the hierarchy of values. These feelings don’t measure up to the nobler, finer emotions drawn out by patriotism and faith. The man or women whose greatest emotional energy is reserved for money knows nothing of the higher emotional life.

Money can bring fun – even happiness – but not joy if it is only “money for money’s sake.” It has no intrinsic ability to elevate the intellect or spirit. In fact, the love of gold often blocks the love for all else that is higher and more meaningful. How pale the struggle for wealth becomes when compared to the struggle for freedom, the search for truth, the war for principles, or the fulfillment of the noblest passions.

However, money is one of life’s greatest necessities. To disparage money per se is to demonstrate an ignorance of life and its rules. I often say that I think about money like I think about blood. I make blood to live – I don’t live to make blood. The same thing is true about money for me. I make money to live, but I certainly don’t live to make money.

In my view, money has always represented option. I have been poor and I have been financially comfortable – I prefer the latter. But having money and loving money are poles apart.

The options money make possible are part of its utility. Without it, there are limited choices; with it, choices are opened up. The interesting thing about money and choices is that having many options doesn’t necessarily mean we are capable of always making good choices.

And having money doesn’t necessarily create good character. When someone comments, “Do you know Joe? He’s worth millions!” I always respond: “He may have accumulated millions, but that doesn’t determine his worth.” The stewardship of great wealth requires discipline and the recognition that what you have isn’t the same as who you are.

This week think carefully about: 1) What is my relationship to money? 2) Do I have money or does money have me? 3) How can I use my financial resources to multiply God’s work?

Words of Wisdom: “Having money and loving money are poles apart.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no intention of acquiring wisdom?” (Proverbs 17:16 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – August 4, 2015

Fred took Oswald Chambers’ admonition to “sit loose to things” quite literally. He never allowed possessions to hold him hostage. There were few things that needed replacing if enough duct tape were properly applied.

Thank you for your consistent encouragement and support. Your words of gratitude help us in our work. Your illustrations of how Fred’s thoughts strengthened you gratify us and undergird the BWF Project.

Things Are Important

Practical excellence starts with our relationship to things. Most of our time, energy, and thought are involved with the material. So, we must ask ourselves: “Are our possessions hurting or helping us?”

Accumulation has a philosophy. Social historians look closely at a culture in relation to its artifacts. Understanding their material remnants tells a vivid story about the people and the way they lived. When there was written history, it is often eclipsed by the study of what the people accumulated. It is like the difference between saying and doing.

I often laughingly consider what archaeologists will piece together about us when they find piles of non-biodegradable butter tubs!

Ads tell us we can have it all! Sadly, too many buy into the idea that lacking the latest and greatest gadget labels one as a failure. I once read a sign saying, “If you can’t count it, it don’t count.” Foolishness. I tend to believe the more things I own, the more they own me. Ask my family about my different hobby phases and they will quickly tell stories of boating gone awry or temporary woodworking projects which turned into oddly permanent fixes.

Buying the good life is another mistaken idea about things. I have been poor and I have been not poor, and certainly not poor gives me more options. But it didn’t create a substantial life – character choices does that. I have seen way too many who thought the good life consisted of stuff, but they ended up mediocre, spoiled, rich brats. Growing up I saw men and women in the mill district of North Nashville who had very few things, but knew what good in life meant.

A word about money in the Christian world. It can gain someone recognition quickly. Big givers climb the pyramid of fame with jet speed. Ironically, some of those with reputations for giving hold tightly to their assets but promise them for future gifts. A very wise man once said, “There is no better job than being a big potential donor.”

Christians must hold the proper view of things. Scripture tells us much that is valued in this world will be burned up as “wood, hay, and stubble.” We cannot neglect the importance of things, but we must never put our trust in them. And of course, we must always “sit loose to things” as Oswald Chambers says, for they are never ours to keep, but just to manage.

This week think about: 1) How tied am I to my things? 2) What things in my life define me? 3) When archaeologists dig up my “things,” what story will they tell?

Words of Wisdom: “Growing up I saw men and women in the mill district of North Nashville who had very few things, but knew what good in life meant.”

Wisdom from the Word: “For what benefit is it for a person to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his life?” (Mark 8:36 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – October 1, 2013

Fred’s financial wisdom and practice were well known.  One of his life-long friends commented recently on his sage counsel to a group of Dallas businessmen:  “Keep a year’s living expenses in savings and if possible live on half your income.”  “We were all shocked when he said that because most of the people we knew lived right up to the hilt supporting a high profile life style.  No one thought about reducing their standard of living to the one Fred and Mary Alice chose.”

“Money can be a tool or an idol” is one of Fred’s pithy sayings.  To those who give in the support of BWF, BWFLI, and the Weekly Thought, we want you to know it is most certainly a tool for the furtherance of this ministry.  Thank you.

Joy Through Financial Integrity

Those inundated by financial worries seldom exude a joyful attitude.  Our value system is exemplified by our relationship to money.  I laughingly told someone, “You never know a person until you count money with them.”  It brought a smile, but I was dead serious.  Scott Peck wrote about the underlying flaw in the American character – the failure to delay gratification.  We see this throughout our culture, but none so clearly as in our use of money.  Buying on time and using credit were unfortunate additions to our financial system.

We are so anxious for the fruit we pick it before it is ripe.  Oswald Chambers defined lust as “I must have it now” and how true that is of our instant satisfaction society.    (more…)